Fuller hits double for Saints; King also scores
CMC
Sunday, April 02, 2006

LONDON, England (CMC) -
Reggae Boy Ricardo Fuller scored twice in six minutes to hand
Southampton a 3-2 victory over Cardiff and ease their relegation worries
in the English Championship yesterday.

Fuller, recalled to the starting line-up for the game at home at St Marys
after a loan spell at Ipswich, netted in the 70th and 75th minutes as the
hosts surged ahead 3-1 in the second half, after the game was locked 1-1
from just after half time.

After a goalless first half, Southampton took the lead in the 47th minute
when Claus Lundekvam's header found the back of the nets. Cardiff
responded almost immediately when Cameron Jerome found the equalizer
seven minutes later with a header of his own, to restore parity.

The 26 year-old Fuller then took centre stage. Collecting the ball on the
right in the 70th minute, he cut inside and fired a low shot past the Cardiff
goalie to open his account and break the deadlock. Just five minutes later,
he was on target again, slotting home a rebound from close range after
his first shot was blocked.

Darren Purse added a second for Cardiff on the whistle but by then
Southampton had wrapped up the points that took them away, if only
briefly, from the relegation zone.

"Ricardo kept his head in front of goal and all credit to the boy. He has
come back from Ipswich desperate to play and looking sharp so I had no
hesitation putting him in," manager George Burley said.

"Today he showed his desire and took his goals well and we held out
strongly at the end against difficult opposition in what was a pressure
game for us."

Fuller's Reggae Boyz team-mate Marlon King was also on target as he
struck his 19th goal of the season for Watford as they went down to
Crystal Palace 3-1 on Friday night.